1-3. (a) Sizaxoxa ngayiphi imibuzo? (b) Yiziphi izinto ezine eziqakathekileyo ezingenza uNkulunkulu akwamukele ukukhonza kwethu? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

 AKUMBONE ngelihlo lengqondo u-Abela ehlola izimvu zakhe, abesekhetha ezinye azihlabe azinikele kuNkulunkulu. Izimvu lezi ubezigcine kuhle kusukela zingamazinyane. Kodwa uJehova uzawamukela yini umnikelo ka-Abela, umuntu olesono?

² UJehova waphefumulela umphostoli uPhawuli ukuthi abhale ngo-Abela athi: “UNkulunkulu wazamukela izipho zakhe.” Kodwa uJehova kazange awamukele umnikelo kaKhayini. (Bala uHebheru 11:4.) Lokhu kwenza sizibuze imibuzo elandelayo: Kungani uNkulunkulu wamukela umnikelo ka-Abela kodwa wangawamukeli okaKhayini? Kuyini esingakufunda kuKhayini lo-Abela kanye lakwabanye okukhulunywa ngabo kuHebheru isahluko 11? Impendulo zemibuzo le zizasinceda sizwisise ukuthi uJehova ufuna abantu bakhe bamkhonze njani.

³ Esihlokweni lesi sizaxoxa ngezinto ezenzakala kusukela ngesikhathi sika-Abela kuze kuyefika ezinsukwini zikaHezekheli. Sicela unanzelele izinto ezine eziqakathekileyo ezingenza uNkulunkulu akwamukele ukukhonza kwethu. Okokuqala, lokho umuntu  akwenzayo kumele akwenzele uJehova. Okwesibili, kumele amnike okuhle kulakho konke alakho. Okwesithathu, kumele amkhonze ngendlela ayifunayo. Okwesine, kumele amkhonze ngenhliziyo yonke.

4, 5. Kuyini okwenza uKhayini wabakwazi ukuthi kumele anikele kuJehova?

⁴ Bala uGenesisi 4:2-5. UKhayini wayekwazi mhlophe ukuthi isipho sakhe wayesinikela kuJehova. Kufanele ukuthi wayesefunde okunengi kakhulu ngaye ngoba ngesikhathi yena lomfowabo u-Abela benikela iminikelo yabo basebesiyafikisa iminyaka engu-100. a Bobabili babekhule beyazi insimu ye-Edeni. Mhlawumbe babeke bamele khatshana bayibuke insimu le enhle, babone lamaKherubhi ayelinde indlela eya esihlahleni sokuphila. (Gen. 3:24) Kumele ukuthi abazali babo babatshela ukuthi uJehova nguye owadala zonke izinto lokuthi wayehlose ukuthi abantu baphile kuze kube nini lanini, hatshi lokhu ababekubona kusenzakala. Phela khathesi basebehlupheka, beguga futhi bacina befile. (Gen. 1:24-28) Konke uKhayini ayesekufundile kwamsiza ukuthi akwazi ukuthi kumele anikele kuJehova.

⁵ Kuyini okunye okungabe kwenza uKhayini wanikela umhlatshelo? UJehova wayethe kwakuzakuba ”lenzalo” eyayizacobodisa ikhanda ‘lenyoka’ eyayiyenge u-Eva. (Gen. 3:4-6, 14,15) Kungenzakala ukuthi uKhayini wacabanga ukuthi nguye ‘owayeyinzalo’ leyo njengoba wayelizibulo. (Gen. 4:1) Kanti njalo lanxa u-Adamu wayesewonile uNkulunkulu wayelokhu esakhuluma labantu. Ngokwesibonelo wakhuluma lo-Adamu, mhlawumbe esebenzisa ingilosi. (Gen. 3:8-10) Engxenye lokhu ngokunye okwenza uKhayini wanikela umhlatshelo. UKhayini laye wathi esenikele umhlatshelo wakhe, uJehova wakhuluma laye. (Gen. 4:6) Kuyacaca ukuthi uKhayini wayekwazi mhlophe ukuthi uJehova nguye okufanele akhonzwe.

6, 7. Kukhona yini okwakungaqondanga ngalokho uKhayini anikela ngakho langendlela anikela ngayo? Chasisa.

⁶ Manje yindaba uJehova engazange awamukele umnikelo kaKhayini? Kambe ukuthi uKhayini kazange anike uJehova okuhle kakhulu kulokho ayelakho? IBhayibhili alisitsheli. Elisitshela khona yikuthi uKhayini waletha “esinye isivuno sakhe” ukuze sibe ngumnikelo kuJehova. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uJehova wanika abantu bakhe uMthetho owawubavumela ukuthi banikele ngalokho abakuvune emasimini. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi iminikelo enjalo wayeyamukela. (Nani. 15:8, 9) Okunye okumele sikukhumbule yikuthi ngalesosikhathi abantu babengakaphiwa imvumo yokudla inyama. (Gen. 1:29) Kanti njalo uKhayini wayesebenze nzima ukuze athole lokho ayezanikela ngakho ngoba umhlabathi owawungaphandle kwe-Edeni wawuqalekisiwe. (Gen. 3:17-19) Wanikela ngokudla ayekuginqele. Lanxa kunjalo uJehova kazange awamukele umnikelo kaKhayini.

⁷ Kambe ukuthi uKhayini kazange anikele umhlatshelo wakhe ngendlela uNkulunkulu ayifunayo yini? Kukhanya uhlupho lwalungekho  endleleni ayenikele ngayo ngoba uJehova kazange asole indlela uKhayini ayenikele ngayo. IBhayibhili alisitsheli ukuthi uKhayini lo-Abela bayinikela njani iminikelo yabo. Pho uhlupho lwalungaphi?

8, 9. (a) Kungani uJehova engazange amamukele uKhayini kumbe umnikelo wakhe? (b) Kuyini esikutshelwa liBhayibhili mayelana loKhayini lo-Abela?

⁸ Lokho uPhawuli akubhalela amaKhristu angamaHebheru kutshengisa ukuthi uKhayini kazange awenze ngenhliziyo yonke umnikelo wakhe ngoba wayengelakholo. (Heb. 11:4; 1 Joh. 3:11, 12) Uhlupho lwalukuye ngokwakhe hatshi emnikelweni wakhe. Yikho uJehova kazange amamukele uKhayini. (Gen. 4:5-8) UJehova wazama ukumqondisa ngoba yena unguBaba olothando, kodwa uKhayini kazange avume. Wayefukamele izinto ezimbi enhliziyweni yakhe, ‘inzondo lokuxabana lomhawu.’ (Gal. 5:19, 20) Izinto ezimbi ezazisenhliziyweni yakhe yizo ezenza uJehova wangamukeli okuhle ayekwenza. Indaba kaKhayini isifundisa ukuthi uJehova kakhangeli imisebenzi esiyenzayo nje kuphela, kodwa uhlola lenhliziyo.

⁹ Kunengi iBhayibhili elisitshela khona ngoKhayini. Lilamazwi uJehova awatshela uKhayini lezimpendulo zakhe. Lisitshela lamabizo abazukulu bakhe lezinye izinto abazenzayo. (Gen. 4:17-24) Kodwa iBhayibhili alisitsheli ukuthi u-Abela waba labantwana yini futhi akulalutho alukhulumayo olubhalwe eBhayibhilini. Lanxa kunjalo, kunengi esingakufunda kulokho u-Abela akwenzayo.

10. Okwenziwa ngu-Abela kusifundisani?

¹⁰ U-Abela wayekwazi ukuthi uJehova nguye yedwa okufanelwe akhonzwe, yikho wanikela kuye umhlatshelo wakhe. Wanikela ngokuhle kulakho konke ayelakho ngoba iBhayibhili lithi wanikela ‘ngamazibulo omhlambi wakhe.’ Lanxa iBhayibhili lingasitsheli ukuthi umhlatshelo wakhe wawenzela e-alithareni loba hatshi, esikwaziyo yikuthi indlela anikela ngayo yayiqondile. Kodwa okuhle kakhulu ngomnikelo wakhe yikuthi wawenza ngenhliziyo yonke. Lanxa lokhu kwenzakala eminyakeni engaba ngu-6 000 eyadlulayo, kuyasinceda sibone ukuthi kumele simkhonze njani uJehova. Okwenza u-Abela wanikela yikuthi wayelokholo kuNkulunkulu futhi ezithanda izimiso zakhe. Sikwazi njani lokho?

11. Kungani uJesu wathi u-Abela wayeyindoda elungileyo?

¹¹ Okokuqala, asixoxeni ngokuthi uJesu wayembona njani u-Abela. UJesu wayemazi kuhle u-Abela ngoba yena wayesezulwini ngesikhathi u-Abela esaphila futhi wayeyithanda indodana le ka-Adamu. (Zaga. 8:22, 30, 31; Joh. 8:58; Kol. 1:15, 16) Yikho lapho uJesu esithi u-Abela wayeyindoda elungileyo wayekhuluma lokho ayezibonele khona ngawakhe. (Mat. 23:35) Umuntu olungileyo ngovumayo ukuthi uJehova nguye olelungelo lokutsho ukuthi kuyini okuqondileyo lokungaqondanga. Indlela akhuluma ngayo laziphatha ngayo iyatshengisa ukuthi uyazilandela izimiso zikaNkulunkulu. (Khangela loLukha 1:5, 6.) Kuthatha isikhathi ukuthi kuze kucace ukuthi umuntu ulungile. Ngakho kumele ukuthi  u-Abela wayezilandela izimiso zikaNkulunkulu langesikhathi engakanikeli umnikelo wakhe. Kodwa kufanele ukuthi lokhu kwakungalula. Akulanto enhle ayengayifunda kumfowabo uKhayini ngoba inhliziyo yakhe yayimbi. (1 Joh. 3:12) Unina wayengawulalelanga umlayo kaNkulunkulu ocacileyo futhi loyise wayehlamukele uJehova, efuna ukuzikhethela ukuthi kuyini okuhle lokubi. (Gen. 2:16, 17; 3:6) U-Abela watshengisa ukuthi ulesibindi sibili ngokukhetha ukuphila ngendlela etshiyene leyabangakibo!

12. UKhayini lo-Abela babetshiyene njani?

¹² Okwesibili okwenza sithi u-Abela wayelokholo futhi ezithanda izimiso zikaNkulunkulu yilokho okwatshiwo ngumphostoli uPhawuli. UPhawuli wathi ekhuluma ngokholo watshengisa ukuthi ukholo lokulunga kuhamba ndawonye. Wabhala wathi: “Ngokholo u-Abela wanikela kuNkulunkulu umhlatshelo owawuligugu kulokaKhayini, njalo ngokholo lolu waphiwa ubufakazi bokuthi wayelungile.” (Heb. 11:4) Amazwi la aveza ukuthi u-Abela wayengafanani loKhayini. Okwempilo yakhe yonke u-Abela watshengisa ukuthi wayelokholo kuJehova futhi ethemba ukuthi konke akwenzayo kuqondile.

13. Okwenziwa ngu-Abela kusifundisani?

¹³ Indaba ka-Abela isifundisa ukuthi uJehova wamukela umuntu omkhonza ngenhliziyo yonke futhi elenhloso ezinhle. Lokhu kutsho ukuthi kumele sibe lokholo kuJehova futhi silandele izimiso zakhe. Okunye esikufundayo yikuthi ukukhonza kweqiniso akutsho ukwenza okulungileyo okwelanga elilodwa nje kuphela, kodwa kumele silandele izimiso zikaJehova okwempilo yethu yonke futhi siziphathe ngendlela ayifunayo.

14. Kungani uJehova wamukela iminikelo kaNowa, u-Abrahama loJakhobe?

¹⁴ Phakathi kwabantu abalesono u-Abela waba ngowokuqala ukukhonza uJehova ngendlela ayamukelayo futhi kwaba labanye abamlandelayo. Umphostoli uPhawuli wakhuluma ngabanye abakhonza uJehova ngendlela ayamukelayo. Abanye babo nguNowa, u-Abrahama loJakhobe. (Bala uHebheru 11:7, 8, 17-21.) Amadoda la ake enza imihlatshelo kuJehova. UJehova wayamukela ngoba akwenza konke okuqakathekileyo afuna abantu bakhe bakwenze ukuze amukele indlela abamkhonza ngayo. Asixoxeni ngalokho amadoda la akwenzayo.

15, 16. Yiziphi izinto ezine ezenza uJehova wamukela umhlatshelo kaNowa?

¹⁵ UNowa wazalwa ngemva kweminyaka engu-126 kuphela u-Adamu efile. Lanxa kunjalo, emhlabeni kwasekugcwele ukukhonza kwamanga. b (Gen. 6:11) Phakathi kwabo bonke abantu ababesemhlabeni ngalesosikhathi, uNowa lemuli yakhe yibo kuphela ababekhonza uJehova ngendlela ayamukelayo. (2 Phet. 2:5) Ngemva kukaZamcolo, uNowa wakha i-alithare ukuze enzele uJehova imihlatshelo futhi i-alithare lelo ngelakuqala eliqanjwa eBhayibhilini. Ngokwenza lokho uNowa wakwenza kwacaca emulini yakhe lakubo bonke abantu ababezakuba khona emhlabeni ukuthi uJehova nguye kuphela okumele akhonzwe. Phakathi kwazo zonke izinyamazana  ezazikhona, uNowa wanikela ‘ngenyamazana ezihlanzekileyo langezidalwa eziphaphayo ezihlanzekileyo.’ (Gen. 8:20) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uNowa wanikela ngokuhle kakhulu ngoba uJehova nguye owayethe inyamazana lezo zihlanzekile.—Gen. 7:2.

¹⁶ UNowa watshisela imihlatshelo e-alithareni ayelakhile. Indlela anikela ngayo imihlatshelo le yayiqondile yini? Ye yayiqondile. IBhayibhili lithi uJehova wezwa uqhatshi olumnandi olwaluvela emihlatshelweni kaNowa, wasebusisa uNowa lamadodana akhe. (Gen. 8:21; 9:1) Kodwa okwenza uJehova wemukela umhlatshelo kaNowa yikuthi wayewenze ngenhliziyo yonke. UNowa wanikela imihlatshelo kuJehova ngoba wayelokholo oluqinileyo futhi ethemba ukuthi konke akwenzayo kuqondile. IBhayibhili lithi uNowa “wahamba loNkulunkulu weqiniso” ngenxa yokuthi wayemlalela futhi elandela izimiso zakhe. Lokhu yikho okwenza kwathiwa uNowa ungumuntu olungileyo.—Gen. 6:9; Hez. 14:14; Heb. 11:7.

17, 18. Yiziphi izinto ezine ezenza uJehova wamukela umhlatshelo ka-Abrahama?

¹⁷ Ngesikhathi sika-Abrahama abantu abanengi babengamkhonzi uJehova. Edolobheni le-Uri, lapho u-Abrahama ayehlala khona, kwakulethempeli likankulunkulu wenyanga okuthiwa nguNanna c futhi abantu abanengi babekhonzela khona. Uyise ka-Abrahama laye wayeke wakhonza onkulunkulu bamanga. (Josh. 24:2) Lanxa kunjalo u-Abrahama wakhetha ukukhonza uJehova. Kungenzakala ukuthi ukhokho wakhe uShemu, owayezalwa nguNowa, nguye owamfundisa ngoNkulunkulu weqiniso. Baphila bonke okwesikhathi eside ngoba uShemu wafa u-Abrahama eseleminyaka engu-150.

¹⁸ U-Abrahama wenza imihlatshelo eminengi. Imihlatshelo le wayeyenzela uJehova ngoba wayekwazi ukuthi nguye yedwa okumele akhonzwe. (Gen. 12:8; 13:18; 15:8-10) U-Abrahama wayezimisele yini ukupha uJehova okuhle kakhulu ukwedlula konke ayelakho? Ye wayezimisele. Lokhu kwakhanya lapho evuma ukuyanikela ngendodana yakhe ayithandayo u-Isaka. UJehova wamchasisela indlela okwakumele anikele ngayo. (Gen. 22:1, 2) U-Abrahama wayezimisele ukwenza konke uJehova ayethe akwenze. Phela uJehova nguye owaze wammisa ukuthi angabulali indodana yakhe. (Gen. 22:9-12) UJehova wayamukela yonke imihlatshelo ka-Abrahama ngoba wayeyenza ngenhliziyo yonke. Umphostoli uPhawuli wathi: “U-Abrahama wakholwa kuJehova kwathiwa ulungile.”—Rom. 4:3.

19, 20. Yiziphi izinto ezine ezenza uJehova wamukela umhlatshelo kaJakhobe?

¹⁹ UJakhobe wahlala isikhathi eside eKhenani, ilizwe uJehova ayelithembise u-Abrahama lezizukulwane zakhe. (Gen. 17:1, 8) Abantu beKhenani babekhonza onkulunkulu bamanga futhi besenza izinto ezimbi, uJehova waze wathi ilizwe ‘abahlala kulo lizabahlanza.’ (Levi. 18:24, 25) UJakhobe wathi eseleminyaka engu-77 wasuka eKhenani. Waphenduka ngemva kwesikhathi esetshadile futhi eselemuli enkulu. (Gen. 28:1, 2; 33:18) Kodwa abanye emulini yakhe babelokhu belezithombe ezazisetshenziswa ekukhonzeni  kwamanga. UJehova wathi esetshele uJakhobe ukuthi ayemakhela i-alithare eBhetheli, uJakhobe wathi emulini yakhe: “Lahlani bonke onkulunkulu bezizweni elilabo, lizihlambulule.” Ngemva kwalokho wenza konke uJehova ayemtshele ukuthi akwenze.—Gen. 35:1-7.

²⁰ UJakhobe wakha ama-alithare amanengi eLizweni Lesithembiso futhi yonke imihlatshelo ayeyenza kuwo yayisiya kuJehova. (Gen. 35:14; 46:1) Wanikela kuJehova ngokuhle kulakho konke ayelakho futhi wamkhonza ngendlela ayamukelayo langenhliziyo yonke. Yikho iBhayibhili lisithi ‘wayemsulwa,’ okutshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayemamukela. (Gen. 25:27) Indlela uJakhobe ayephila ngayo yatshengisa izizukulwane zakhe ezabumba isizwe sako-Israyeli ukuthi kwakumele zimkhonze njani uJehova.—Gen. 35:9-12.

21. Kuyini esikufunda mayelana lokukhonza kweqiniso emadodeni esixoxe ngawo?

²¹ Kuyini esingakufunda ngokukhonza kweqiniso emadodeni la esixoxe ngawo? Lathi siphila labantu abangasiphambanisa sicine singasakhonzi uJehova ngenhliziyo yonke. Abanye babo bangabe beyizihlobo zethu. Manje singenzani ukuze bangasiphambanisi? Kumele sibe lokholo oluqinileyo futhi singathandabuzi ukuthi izimiso zikaJehova yizo ezingenza siphile impilo engcono kakhulu. Sitshengisa ukuthi silokholo ngokulalela uJehova langokumkhonza sisebenzisa isikhathi sethu lamandla ethu kanye lalokho esilakho. (Mat. 22:37-40; 1 Khor. 10:31) Nxa singakhonza uJehova ngamandla ethu wonke langenhliziyo yonke futhi senze lokho asitshela khona, uJehova uzathi lathi silungile.—Bala uJakhobe 2:18-24.

22-24. UMthetho wawusithi imihlatshelo yama-Israyeli kwakumele inikelwe kubani, ibe ngenjani njalo yenziwe njani?

²² UJehova wanika izizukulwane zikaJakhobe uMthetho owawucacisa lokho ayefuna zikwenze. Wazitshela ukuthi nxa zingamlalela zazizakuba ‘yimpahla yakhe eqakathekileyo’ futhi zibe “yisizwe esingcwele.” (Eks. 19:5, 6) UMthetho lowo wawutshengisa ukuthi kulezinto ezine eziqakathekileyo ezingenza uNkulunkulu amukele ukukhonza kwethu. Ake sihlole ukuthi waziveza njani izinto lezo.

²³ UJehova wawacacisela ama-Israyeli ukuthi kwakumele akhonze yena kuphela. Wathi: ‘Akumelanga libe labanye onkulunkulu ngaphandle kwami.’ (Eks. 20:3-5) Wawatshela lokuthi kwakumele anikele ngokuhle kulakho konke ayelakho. Ngokwesibonelo, kwakumele anikele ngezifuyo ezingelasici. (Levi. 1:3; Dute. 15:21; khangela loMalakhi 1:6-8.) Eminye iminikelo eyayilethwa ngama-Israyeli yayiphiwa amaLevi. Lanxa kunjalo amaLevi lawo kwakumele anikele. Kwakumele akhethe phakathi kwazo ‘zonke izipho ezinhle ayeziphiwe,’ abesesiyanikela kuJehova. (Nani. 18:29) Ama-Israyeli aphiwa imilayo eyayiwanceda akwazi indlela okwakumele amkhonze ngayo uJehova. Imilayo le yayiwacacisela ukuthi kwakumele anikele ngani lokuthi kwakumele ayenzele ngaphi iminikelo leyo futhi ayenze njani. Ayephiwe lemilayo eyayiwatshela ukuthi kumele aziphathe njani. Isiyonke imilayo ayeyiphiwe yayisedlula 600. UJehova wathi: “Kumele  linanzelele ukuthi lenza khona kanye uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu alitshele khona. Akumelanga liphambukele kwesokudla loba kwesenxele.”—Dute. 5:32.

²⁴ Kodwa uJehova wayelendaba yini lokuthi ama-Israyeli ayeyenzela ngaphi imihlatshelo yawo? Ye wayelendaba. UJehova watshela abantu bakhe ukuthi bakhe ithabanikeli futhi yikho lapho ababezakhonzela khona. (Eks. 40:1-3, 29, 34) Yikho nxa ama-Israyeli ayefuna ukuthi uNkulunkulu amukele iminikelo yawo, kwakufanele abuye layo ethabanikeli. d—Dute. 12:17, 18.

25. Kuyini okwakungenza uJehova ayamukele iminikelo yama-Israyeli? Chasisa.

²⁵ Kodwa okwakuqakatheke kakhulu yikuthi ama-Israyeli anikele ngenhliziyo yonke. Kwakumele amthande ngenhliziyo yonke uJehova futhi athande lezimiso zakhe ukuze amukele imihlatshelo yawo. (Bala uDutheronomi 6:4-6.) UJehova wayengeke ayamukele iminikelo yama-Israyeli nxa ayengayenzela ukugcina uMthetho nje kuphela. (Isaya. 1:10-13) Phela uJehova uyananzelela nxa umuntu engamkhonzi ngenhliziyo yonke. Yikho waphefumulela umphrofethi u-Isaya ukuthi abhale athi: ‘Abantu laba bangidumisa ngezindebe zabo kuphela, kodwa inhliziyo zabo zikhatshana kakhulu lami.’—Isaya. 29:13.

26. Ekuqaliseni ithempeli elalakhiwe nguSolomoni lalisetshenziswa njani?

²⁶ Kwathi sekwedlule iminyaka abako-Israyeli behlala eLizweni Lesithembiso, iNkosi uSolomoni yakha indawo yokukhonzela eyayinkulu ukwedlula ithabanikeli. (1 Amakho. 7:51; 2 Imilan. 3:1, 6, 7) Ekuqaliseni imihlatshelo eyayinikelwa ethempelini yayisenzelwa uJehova kuphela. USolomoni labantu bakhe banikela iminikelo eminengi eyayimihle kakhulu, futhi bayinikela ngendlela uMthetho kaNkulunkulu owawusithi kufanele inikelwe ngayo. (1 Amakho. 8:63) Kodwa ubuhle bethempeli lobunengi beminikelo ayisikho okwakusenza ukuthi uJehova amukele ukukhonza kwabo. Okwakuqakatheke kakhulu kuJehova yikuthi babenikela ngenhliziyo yonke yini. USolomoni wakucacisa lokhu ngesikhathi ithempeli linikelwa. Wathi: “Zinikeleni ngokupheleleyo kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu, lilandele imithetho yakhe njalo ligcine imilayo yakhe njengoba lisenza lamuhla.”—1 Amakho. 8:57-61.

27. Amakhosi ako-Israyeli labantu bawo benzani futhi lokhu kwabangelani?

²⁷ Okudanisayo yikuthi ama-Israyeli awazange aqhubeke esenza lokho ayekutshelwe yiNkosi uSolomoni. Ayengasazenzi ezinye izinto eziqakathekileyo uJehova akhangelele ukuthi zenziwe ngabantu abamkhonzayo. Amakhosi ako-Israyeli labantu bawo abazange bakhonze uJehova ngenhliziyo yonke. Bacina bengaselakholo futhi babengasalandeli izimiso zikaJehova. UJehova waqhubeka ethumela abaphrofethi bakhe ukuthi babaqondise futhi babaxwayise ngalokho okwakuzakwenzakala nxa beqhubeka besenza okubi. (Jer. 7:13-15, 23-26) Omunye wabaphrofethi laba ababethembekile kwakunguHezekheli. Ngesikhathi aphila ngaso abantu abanengi babengasakhonzi uJehova ngendlela ayamukelayo.

28, 29. Kuyini esikwaziyo ngoHezekheli? (Khangela ibhokisi elithi, “UHezekheli—Impilo Yakhe Lesikhathi Aphila Ngaso.”)

²⁸ UHezekheli wayekwazi kuhle ukuthi abantu kwakumele bamkhonze njani uJehova ethempelini. Phela uyise wayengumphristi, yikho ngezinye izikhathi wayehamba ayesebenza ethempelini. (Hez. 1:3) Kumele ukuthi uHezekheli wakhuliswa kuhle ngabazali bakhe. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uyise wamfundisa ngoJehova langoMthetho wakhe. UHezekheli wayengabe elomnyaka owodwa ngesikhathi kutholakala “ibhuku loMthetho” ethempelini. e Ngalesosikhathi kwakubusa inkosi elungileyo uJosiya. UJosiya wathi esizwa lokho okwakubhalwe ebhukwini loMthetho wazimisela ukuncedisa abantu ukuthi baphinde bakhonze uJehova ngendlela ayamukelayo.—2 Amakho. 22:8-13.

²⁹ UHezekheli laye wenza njengamadoda akudala ayethembekile ngoba wakhonza uJehova ngendlela ayamukelayo. Nxa sihlola ibhuku lakhe sithola ukuthi wazenza zonke izinto ezine eziqakathekileyo ezingenza uJehova amukele ukukhonza kwethu. Wayekhonza uJehova kuphela futhi emnika okuhle kulakho konke ayelakho. Wenza  konke uJehova ayemtshela khona ngendlela uJehova ayifunayo. Kanti njalo wayemkhonza ngenhliziyo yonke. Kodwa abantu ayephila labo abazange benze njengaye. Ngesikhathi uHezekheli ekhula wayehlala esizwa iziphrofetho zikaJeremiya. UJeremiya waqalisa ukuphrofetha ngo-647 B.C.E., futhi wayekhuthele emsebenzini wakhe, etshela abantu ngezahlulelo zikaJehova.

30. (a) Iziphrofetho ezabhalwa nguHezekheli zitshengisani? (b) Kuyini isiphrofetho futhi kumele sizizwisise njani iziphrofetho ezabhalwa nguHezekheli? (Khangela ibhokisi elithi “Iziphrofetho ZikaHezekheli.”)

³⁰ Iziphrofetho ezabhalwa nguHezekheli zitshengisa ukuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu basebephambuke kakhulu batshiya uJehova. (Bala uHezekheli 8:6.) UJehova wathi eqalisa ukujezisa abakoJuda, uHezekheli laye wathunjwa wahanjiswa eBhabhiloni. (2 Amakho. 24:11-17) Kodwa lokho akutsho ukuthi laye wayejeziswa. Kulomsebenzi uJehova ayefuna ayewenza eBhabhiloni. Wathi esekhonale kulemibono emangalisayo ayibonayo kanye leziphrofetho athunywa ukuthi azikhulume. Konke lokhu wakubhala phansi futhi kwatshengisa indlela ukukhonza kweqiniso okwakuzavuselelwa ngayo eJerusalema. Kodwa iziphrofetho zikaHezekheli zazingasoze zigcwaliseke eJerusalema kuphela. Zisitshengisa lendlela ukukhonza kweqiniso okuzavuselelwa ngayo emhlabeni wonke.

31. Ibhuku leli lizasinceda njani?

³¹ Ibhuku leli lehlukaniswe laba zingxenye ezitshiyeneyo. Ezingxenyeni lezo sizahlola imibono kaHezekheli ezasinceda sizwisise okunye okwenzakala ezulwini, lapho uJehova ahlala khona. Sizafunda ukuthi ukukhonza kweqiniso kwangcoliswa njani lokuthi uJehova ukuvuselele njani, sibone lokuthi wabavikela njani abantu bakhe. Sizahlola lokuthi impilo izabe isinjani nxa bonke abantu sebekhonza uJehova.  Esahlukweni esilandelayo sizaxoxa ngombono wokuqala owabhalwa nguHezekheli. Umbono lo uzasinceda simazi ngcono uJehova lengxenye esezulwini yenhlanganiso yakhe. Uzasinceda sizwisise ukuthi kungani kunguye yedwa kuphela okumele akhonzwe.